Followers

What a cool project to do with your kids. We've seen a similar set up before, but I think this is the first we've seen of an HD camera being sent up.

Again, these types of things can be put together for a few hundred bucks -- what an AMAZING science project for a classroom to do.

Have the kids each sign a small contract saying they will explore the world through science, and send the contract to space! Frame them up and give the kids a great souvenir that will be sure to motivate them to keep science in their future.

We might be changing out named to five dollar bills if the trend in Salt Lake City continues... A school will be allowing students to choose between a $5 fine or 30 minutes of detention for being late to class. The fees will go to pay the teachers who need to watch the kids in detention.

The idea itself seems interesting -- but how about a dual policy that fines boring / ineffective teachers and reimburses the students for wasting their time.

Pros: students learn early that money will buy you out of most any trouble.

Cons: less advantaged students end up serving detention and the wealthier peers simply pay the fine.

DetentionSlip.org had a chance to catch up with Michael Cirelli, Executive Director of Urban Word NYC. Urban Word is a non-profit organization that empowers and transforms students through spoken word poetry. Their unique approach has won them numerous awards, and they've been the subject of an HBO feature.

Urban Word is based in New York City, but Executive Director Micheal Cirelli has developed a product for educators who want to bring the power of Poetry to the classroom. If you aren't using poetry in your classroom (or you are and want to take it to the next level), check out http://www.theBookJam.com to learn more about the Poetry Jam and how you (or your child's) school can take advantage of this amazing new curriculum.

Can you please join the rest of the developed world and adopt a ban on Corporal Punishment in your schools?

Thanks,
The Rest of the World

P.S. In case you didn't hear - one of your 2nd grade teachers thought it would be a good idea to let the kids beat each other as a form of corporal punishment. Of course, if should be pointed out, the federal government allows this sort of thing, as we are the only country in the developed world to lack a ban on corporal punishment.

Vancouver is rolling out a new program to use 2-D images that appear to look like kids running across the road to encourage drivers to slow down. The optical illusion may work -- or it might desensitize drivers to kids actually in the street and they will just squash more kids..

BOO! The supernatural could frighten you and being held at gun point can do the same!

When students sought out a ghost they heard about, apparently, one teacher of theirs caught them and didn't appreciate that. He held the students at gun point for it, telling them to stay until the police came.

Maybe the ghost all along was just the teacher in the dark, dark night...Talk about a creepy teacher!

Schools from California to Flordia ban cancer awareness bracelet that read "I <3 Boobies (keep a breast)." Could this deter the non-profit organization's cause? While the message is a strong and important one, the tone of the braclet is getting people talking, despite them being banned.